Chicago, Ill., May 10, 2016 /3BL Media/ - Today, the Center for Financial Services Innovation (CFSI) released a landmark report that urges financial services providers to measure the financial health of their customers. The work, which benefitted from the strategic and financial support of MetLife Foundation, equips financial services providers and nonprofits with the tools to better understand the state of their customers’ financial health and their role in improving it. More information and media-ready graphics are available at: http://www.cfsinnovation.com/Document-Library/Eight-Ways-to-Measure-Financial-Health

Financial services is seeing a boom in the growth of consumer-oriented mobile apps and other products that solve salient consumer challenges. This growth in mobile technology could benefit the 57% of U.S. consumers who are struggling financially*. CFSI sees a marked opportunity for providers to create profitable products that improve people’s financial situations and for the first time is providing them with tools to help measure that.

“Banks, fintech companies, and other providers can position themselves today as leaders in helping consumers solve their financial challenges,” said Jennifer Tescher, President and CEO of CFSI. “Providers that do this well will be rewarded by their customers, and they will play a crucial role in shaping the industry’s future and the country. It starts with measuring what matters.”

“We are pleased to be able to support this groundbreaking study with a partner like CFSI who have a track record of creating champions of financial health through four key strategies: informing the marketplace through research and insights, innovating to bring new ideas to market, advising companies on how to build world-class products that promote consumer well-being, and connecting financial services leaders with each other to spur new partnerships,” said Dennis White, CEO & President of MetLife Foundation.

The eight indicators of financial health are:

Spending less than income

Paying bills on time and in full

Having sufficient liquid savings

Having sufficient long-term savings or assets

Having a sustainable debt load

Having a prime credit score

Having appropriate insurance

Planning ahead for expenses

CFSI is working closely to identify early adopters to participate in a “beta” group testing how well these indicators work in measuring their own clients’ financial health. A report on the outcomes of that test will be published in 2017.

About CFSIThe Center for Financial Services Innovation (CFSI) is the nation’s authority on consumer financial health. CFSI leads a network of financial services innovators committed to building a more robust financial services marketplace with higher quality products and services, specifically for those who are struggling. Through its Compass Principles and a lineup of proprietary research, insights, and events, CFSI informs, advises, and connects members of its network to seed the innovation that will transform the financial services landscape. For more on CFSI, go to www.cfsinnovation.com and follow us on Twitter at @CFSInnovation.

About MetLife FoundationMetLife Foundation was created in 1976 to continue MetLife’s long tradition of corporate contributions and community involvement. Since its founding through the end of 2015, MetLife Foundation has provided more than $700 million in grants and $70 million in program-related investments to organizations addressing issues that have a positive impact in their communities. Today, the Foundation is dedicated to advancing financial inclusion, committing $200 million to help build a secure future for individuals and communities around the world. To learn more about MetLife Foundation, visit www.metlife.org.

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